Locking mobile devices in a personal area network (PAN)

• US 20050138356A1
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Hurwitz, Roger A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,555,411 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/155
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A mobile device out of range of other devices in a wireless network may be locked to provide security.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

attempting to communicate with a second device of a working set by a first device of said working set when said first device is activated;

placing said first device in a secure mode if said first device is unable to communicate with said second device of said working set; and

placing said first device in a convenience mode if said first device is able to communicate with said second device of said working set.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

defining said working set of said first device and said second device.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said defining comprises:

communicating between an infrared (IR) port of said first device and an IR port of said second device; and

selecting an operation to associate said first device and said second device with said working set.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said secure mode comprises at least one of:

locking said first device;

disabling said first device;

requiring a password authentication to use said first device;

requiring a biometric authentication to use said first device;

activating a beacon; and

notifying a designee of entry of said first device into said secure mode.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said secure mode comprises:

activating a locking scheme on said first device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said convenience mode comprises:

operating said first device without a locking scheme.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said attempting to communicate comprises:

communicating over a wireless personal area network (PAN).

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said wireless PAN comprises at least one of:

a non-directional short range radio frequency (RF) technology network;

a bluetooth network;

an ultrawideband (UWB) network;

a shared wireless access protocol (SWAP) network;

a wireless fidelity (WI-FI) network; and

an IEEE 802.11a, b, d or g wireless local area network (WLAN) compliant network.

9. A system comprising:

a first device adapted to communicate with a second device when said first device is activated;

wherein said first device is adapted to place said first device in a secure mode if said first device is unable to communicate with said second device; and

wherein said first device is adapted to place said first device in a convenience mode if said first device is able to communicate with said second device.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said first device is adapted to define a working set comprising said first device and said second device.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said first device comprises:

a first infrared (IR) port adapted to communicate with a second IR port of said second device; and

an operation adapted to associate said first device and said second device with said working set upon communication between said first IR port and said second IR port.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein said first device when in said secure mode is adapted to at least one of lock up said first device;

disable said first device;

require a password authentication to use said first device;

require a biometric authentication to use said first device;

activate a beacon; and

notify a designee of entry of said first device into said secure mode.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein when in said secure mode, said first device is adapted to activate a locking scheme on said first device.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein when in said convenience mode, said first device is adapted to operate without a locking scheme.

15. The system according to claim 9, wherein said first device is adapted to communicate over a wireless personal area network (PAN).

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said wireless PAN comprises at least one of:

a non-directional short range radio frequency (RF) technology network;

a bluetooth network;

an ultrawideband (UWB) network;

a shared wireless access protocol (SWAP) network;

a wireless fidelity (WI-FI) network; and

an IEEE 802.11a, b, d or g wireless local area network (WLAN) compliant network.

17. The system according to claim 9, wherein at least one of said first device and said second device comprises a mobile device.

18. The system according to claim 9, further comprising a network adapted to couple said first device and said second device.

19. A machine readable medium that provides instructions, which when executed by a computer platform, cause said computing platform to perform operations comprising a method of:

attempting to communicate with a second device of a working set by a first device of said working set when said first device is activated;

placing said first device in a secure mode if said first device is unable to communicate with said second device of said working set; and

placing said first device in a convenience mode if said first device is able to communicate with said second device of said working set.

20. The machine readable medium according to claim 19, further comprising:

defining said working set of said first device and said second device.

21. The machine readable medium according to claim 20, wherein said defining comprises:

selecting an operation to associate said first device and said second device with said working set.

22. The machine readable medium according to claim 19, wherein said secure mode comprises at least one of:

locking up said first device;

disabling said first device;

requiring password authentication to use said first device;

requiring biometric authentication to use said first device;

activating a beacon; and

notifying a designee of entry into secure mode of said first device.

23. The machine readable medium according to claim 19, wherein said secure mode comprises:

activating a locking scheme on said first device.

24. The machine readable medium according to claim 19, wherein said convenience mode comprises:

operating said first device without a locking scheme.

25. The machine readable medium according to claim 19, wherein said attempting to communicate comprises:

communicating over a wireless personal area network (PAN).

26. The machine readable medium according to claim 25, wherein said wireless PAN comprises at least one of:

a non-directional short range radio frequency (RF) technology network;

a bluetooth network;

an ultrawideband (UWB) network;

a shared wireless access protocol (SWAP) network;

a wireless fidelity (WI-FI) network; and

an IEEE 802.11a, b, d or g wireless local area network compliant network.