Wireless/wired mobile communication device with option to automatically block wireless communication when connected for wired communication

• US 20060094442A1
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Brown, Michael S., Brown, Michael K., Kirkup, Michael G., Little, Herbert A., Robertson, Ian
• Granted Patent: US 8,099,060 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/455
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A mobile wireless communication device also has at least one wired communication port. Enhanced security is achieved by permitting the device to automatically disable one or more wireless ports when connected to a wired port. Specific combinations/permutations of such automatic control may be effected by use of an IT Policy also resident on the device.

Claims

1. A mobile wireless communication device comprising:

a plurality of communication ports including at least one wireless port and at least one wired port;

a computer driven control circuit connected to control communication via each of said plural ports; and

at least one security sub-routine incorporated into said control circuit and adapted to automatically control use of at least one wireless communication port when a wired port is connected for use.

2. A mobile wireless communication device as in claim 1 wherein said at least one wireless port includes a wireless RF transceiver circuit and said at least one wired port includes a USB port.

3. A mobile wireless communication device as in claim 1 wherein said at least one wireless port includes a Bluetooth wireless transceiver circuit and said at least one wired port includes a USB port.

4. A mobile wireless communication device as in claim 1 wherein said at least one wireless port includes an infra-red wireless transceiver circuit and said at least one wired port includes a USB port.

5. A mobile wireless communications device as in claim 1 wherein at least one security sub-routine effects said automatic control in conformance with an IT Policy that resides within said control circuit.

6. A mobile wireless communication device as in claim 5 wherein said at least one security sub-routine effects said automatic control by calling and utilizing an API for said at least one wireless communication port.

7. A mobile wireless communication device comprising:

a wireless RF transceiver circuit adapted for communication over a wireless RF network;

a wired communication port adapted for connection to a base unit that may be part of a wired network;

a computer driven control circuit connected to said wireless transceiver circuit and to said wired communication port; and

a wired communication port driver incorporated into said control circuit and adapted to control use of the wireless RF transceiver circuit when the wired communication port is connected for use.

8. A mobile wireless communication device as in claim 7 wherein said wired communication port is a USB port.

9. A mobile wireless communication device as in claim 8 wherein said USB port is incorporated into a cradle for holding said mobile wireless communication device while it is wire-connected to said base unit.

10. A mobile wireless communication device as in claim 7 wherein said wired communication port driver disables said wireless transceiver when a new wired connection is sensed and enables said wireless transceiver when a new wired disconnection is sensed.

11. A method for controlling a mobile wireless communication device having a plurality of communication ports including at least one wireless port and at least one wired port, said method comprising:

executing a computer program incorporated into a computer driven control circuit to automatically control use of at least one wireless communication port when a wired port is connected for use.

12. A method as in claim 11 wherein said at least one wireless port includes a wireless RF transceiver circuit and said at least one wired port includes a USB port.

13. A method as in claim 11 wherein said at least one wireless port includes a Bluetooth wireless transceiver circuit and said at least one wired port includes a USB port.

14. A method as in claim 11 wherein said at least one wireless port includes an infra-red wireless transceiver circuit and said at least one wired port includes a USB port.

15. A method as in claim 11 wherein said program effects said automatic control in conformance with an IT Policy that resides within said control circuit.

16. A method as in claim 15 wherein said program effects said automatic control by calling and utilizing an API for said at least one wireless communication port.

17. A method for controlling a mobile wireless communication device having a wireless RF transceiver circuit adapted for communication over a wireless RF network and a wired communication port adapted for connection to a base unit that may be part of a wired network, said method comprising:

executing a wired communication port driver incorporated into a computer driven control circuit to control use of the wireless RF transceiver circuit when the wired communication port is connected for use.

18. A method as in claim 17 wherein said wired communication port is a USB port.

19. A method as in claim 18 wherein said USB port is incorporated into a cradle for holding said mobile wireless communication device while it is wire-connected to said base unit.

20. A method as in claim 17 wherein said wired communication port driver disables said wireless transceiver when a new wired connection is sensed and enables said wireless transceiver when a new wired disconnection is sensed.

21. A computer program medium carrying a computer program for use in a mobile wireless communication device having a plurality of communication ports including at least one wireless port and at least one wired port and a computer driven control circuit connected to control communication via each of said plural ports, said program being capable, when executed, of effecting a method comprising:

automatically controlling use of at least one wireless communication port when a wired port is connected for use.

22. A computer program medium as in claim 21 wherein said at least one wireless port includes a wireless RF transceiver circuit and said at least one wired port includes a USB port.

23. A computer program medium as in claim 21 wherein said at least one wireless port includes a Bluetooth wireless transceiver circuit and said at least one wired port includes a USB port.

24. A computer program medium as in claim 21 wherein said at least one wireless port includes an infra-red wireless transceiver circuit and said at least one wired port includes a USB port.

25. A computer program medium as in claim 21 wherein said automatic control is effected in conformance with an IT Policy that resides within said control circuit.

26. A computer program medium as in claim 25 wherein said automatic control is effected by calling and utilizing an API for said at least one wireless communication port.

27. A computer program medium carrying a computer program for use in a mobile wireless communication device having a wireless RF transceiver circuit adapted for communication over a wireless RF network, a wired communication port adapted for connection to a base unit that may be part of a wired network, and a computer driven control circuit connected to said wireless transceiver circuit and to said wired communication port;

said program being capable, when executed, of effecting a method comprising;

a wired communication port driver incorporated into said control circuit to control use of the wireless transceiver circuit when the wired further communication port is connected for use.

28. A computer program medium as in claim 27 wherein said wired communication port is a USB port.

29. A computer program medium as in claim 28 wherein said USB port is incorporated into a cradle for holding said mobile wireless communication device while it is wire-connected to said base unit.

30. A computer program medium as in claim 27 wherein said wired communication port driver disables said wireless transceiver when a new wired connection is sensed and enables said wireless transceiver when a new wired disconnection is sensed.