Method of and apparatus for zone dependent content in a mobile device

• US 20060009239A1
• Filed: 07/06/2004
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ogren, Per
• Granted Patent: US 7,783,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.600
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/30 Security of mobile devices; Security of mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/64 using geofenced areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A mobile device comprises a geographic sensor for determining an approximate location of the mobile device, a memory for storing information, and a microprocessor for controlling the device and adapted for receiving data from the geographic sensor and determining whether the mobile device is located in a particular zone. In another embodiment, the mobile device comprises a device sensor for sensing at least one additional mobile device within a predefined area, a memory for storing information, and a microprocessor for controlling the device and adapted for receiving data from the device sensor and determining whether predetermined conditions, regarding additional mobile devices within a predefined area, are met. This Abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an Abstract that allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain subject matter of the technical disclosure. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Claims

1. A mobile device adapted to be responsive to at least one geographic zone, the mobile device comprising:

a geographic sensor for determining an approximate location of the mobile device;

a memory for storing information; and

a microprocessor, interoperably coupled to the memory, for controlling the device and being adapted for receiving data from the geographic sensor and determining whether the mobile device is located in a particular one of the at least one geographic zone.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein if the microprocessor determines that the mobile device is located in a particular secure zone, information stored in the memory may be accessed.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein if the microprocessor determines that the mobile device is not located in a particular secure zone, information stored in the memory is not accessible.

4. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein the inaccessible information is not decryptable.

5. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein the inaccessible information is locked.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the memory stores personal information in a home category portion of the memory.

7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the home category portion of the memory is accessible when the mobile device is located in a home zone.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the memory stores work information in a work category portion of the memory.

9. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the work category portion of the memory is accessible when the mobile device is located in a work zone.

10. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein each data item stored in the memory is associated with at least one of the at least one geographic zone in which the data item is accessible.

11. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein each data item stored in the memory is associated with at least one of the at least one geographic zone in which the data item is not accessible.

12. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising a device sensor for sensing at least one additional mobile device within a predefined area.

13. A mobile device utilizing at least one personnel group, the mobile device comprising:

a device sensor for sensing at least one additional mobile device within a predefined area;

a memory for storing information; and

a microprocessor, interoperably coupled to the memory, for controlling the device and being adapted for receiving data from the device sensor and determining whether predetermined conditions, regarding additional mobile devices within a predefined area, are met.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein if the microprocessor determines that the predetermined conditions are met, information stored in the memory may be accessed.

15. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein if the microprocessor determines that the predetermined conditions are not met, information stored in the memory is not accessible.

16. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the inaccessible information is not decryptable.

17. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the inaccessible information is locked.

18. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the memory stores rules information in a an access rules portion of the memory.

19. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein a secure data item is stored in a secure item portion of the memory.

20. The mobile device of claim 19, wherein the secure data item is accessible when the predetermined conditions are met.

21. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein the predetermined conditions are set by the mobile device.

22. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the predetermined conditions comprises at least one of:

sensing a majority of a predefined personnel group is present in the predefined area, sensing all of the predefined personnel group is present in the predefined area, and receiving a positive signal from a majority of a predefined personnel group.

23. The mobile device of claim 13, further comprising a geographic sensor for determining an approximate location of the mobile device.

24. A method for utilizing personnel groups in the operation of a mobile device, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing, by a device sensor, at least one additional mobile device within a predefined area;

storing information in a memory; and

determining whether predetermined conditions, regarding additional mobile devices within a predefined area, are met.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of setting the predetermined conditions by the mobile device.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the predetermined conditions comprise at least one of:

sensing a majority of a predefined personnel group is present in the predefined area;

sensing all of the predefined personnel group is present in the predefined area; and

receiving a positive signal from a majority of a predefined personnel group.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of allowing access to the information if the predetermined conditions are met.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of preventing access to the information if the predetermined conditions are not met.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of preventing comprises the step of locking the information.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of preventing comprises the step of preventing decryption of the information.

31. A method of utilizing at least one geographic zone in the operation of a mobile device, the method comprising the steps of:

determining, by a geographic sensor, an approximate location of the mobile device;

storing information in a memory; and

determining whether the mobile device is located in a particular one of the at least one geographic zone based on data received from the geographic sensor.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of allowing access to the information if the mobile device is located in a particular one of the at least one geographic zone.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of preventing access to the information if the mobile device is not located in a particular one of the at least one geographic zone.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of preventing comprises the step of locking the information.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of preventing comprises the step of preventing decryption of the information.

36. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of storing personal information in a home category portion of the memory.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of allowing access to the home category portion of the memory when the mobile device is located in a home zone.

38. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of storing work information in a work category portion of the memory.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising the step of allowing access to the work category portion of the memory when the mobile device is located in a work zone.

40. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of associating each data item stored in the memory with at least one of the at least one geographic zone in which the data item is accessible.

41. The method of claim 31, further comprising associating each data item stored in the memory with at least one of the at least one geographic zone in which the data item is not accessible.