System and method for handling peripheral connections to mobile devices

• US 20050246243A1
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Adams, Neil P., Brown, Michael K., Kirkup, Michael G., Little, Herbert A., Pattenden, Christopher E.S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,664,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/123 by using dedicated hardware, e.g. dongles, smart cards, cryptographic processors, global positioning systems [GPS] devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• 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 63/168 above the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/062 Pre-authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 using filters or firewalls

Abstract

Systems and methods for establishing a data connection between a mobile device and a peripheral. The mobile device is configured to determine whether to handle user approval of the data connection between the mobile device and the peripheral. Through the mobile device, an input mechanism is provided for the user to provide input. The input is used in determining whether to approve the data connection between the mobile device and the peripheral.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a data connection between a mobile device and a peripheral, comprising:

determining, on the mobile device, that the mobile device is to handle user approval of the data connection between the mobile device and the peripheral;

providing through the mobile device an input mechanism for the user to provide input;

determining whether to approve the data connection between the mobile device and the peripheral based upon the user input.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data connection is to allow data to be transferred between the mobile device and the peripheral.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the data connection includes a USB (universal serial bus) connection between the peripheral and the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the data connection includes a wireless connection between the peripheral and the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the peripheral is a personal computer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the peripheral is a smart card reader.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the peripheral is a memory card.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the peripheral is a hardware cryptographic-related token.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the peripheral is a camera.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing through the mobile device a prompt to the user for the user to provide the input.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the peripheral is not capable of providing a user input prompt for use in determining whether to approve the data connection between the mobile device and the peripheral.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the peripheral is not capable of receiving user input for use in determining whether to approve the data connection between the mobile device and the peripheral.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the peripheral is not capable of providing a user input prompt for use in determining whether to approve the data connection between the mobile device and the peripheral.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein approval from the user is required before data can be transferred between the mobile device and the peripheral.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the peripheral provides a request to the mobile device over the data connection to indicate to the mobile device to handle the connection approval process.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein input instructions generate a user interface display asking the user to supply the input and configured to generate a region on the user interface in which the user can provide the input.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the input is a password for the mobile device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the data connection is opened based upon the determining whether to approve the data connection step.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is in a locked state at the time when a connection is established between the mobile device and the peripheral, wherein a password is provided as the input by the user both for unlocking the locked mobile device and for use by the determining whether to approve the data connection step.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein an approved data connection results in opening of the data connection, wherein the opening of the data connection allows application data to be transferred between the mobile device and the peripheral.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a mobile wireless communications device.

22. Computer-readable medium capable of causing a computing device to perform the method of claim 1.

23. An apparatus for establishing a data connection between a mobile device and a peripheral, comprising:

connection handler instructions configured to determine, on the mobile device, that the mobile device is to handle user approval of the data connection between the mobile device and the peripheral;

output instructions configured to provide through the mobile device a prompt to the user for the user to provide input;

wherein the connection handler instructions are configured to determine whether to approve the data connection between the mobile device and the peripheral based upon the user input.

24. A system to establish a data connection between a mobile device and a peripheral, comprising:

means for determining, on the mobile device, that the mobile device is to handle user approval of the data connection between the mobile device and the peripheral;

means for providing through the mobile device an input mechanism for the user to provide input;

means for determining whether to approve the data connection between the mobile device and the peripheral based upon the user input;

wherein the peripheral is not capable of receiving user input for use in determining whether to approve the data connection between the mobile device and the peripheral;

wherein the peripheral is not capable of providing a user input prompt for use in determining whether to approve the data connection between the mobile device and the peripheral.