COMPUTING DEVICE WITH ENVIRONMENT AWARE FEATURES

• US 20070155405A1
• Filed: 03/16/2007
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Chiu, Denny, Hassan, Ahmed, Wilson, J.F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,574,200 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724631 by limiting the access to the user interface, e.g. locking a touch-screen or a keypad
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/084 using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

An electronic device is provided that includes a processor, an output device connected to the processor for issuing a stimulus to a user of the electronic device, and at least one input device connected to the processor and responsive to user interaction. The electronic device also includes a device lock module associated with the processor for implementing restrictions on user access to the electronic device if user interaction is not detected within a predetermined lockout-time interval, the device lock module being configured for resetting the lockout-time interval into a shorter value if a user stimulus is issued by the output device.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a processor;

an output device connected to the processor for issuing a stimulus to a user of the electronic device;

at least one input device connected to the processor and responsive to user interaction; and

a device lock module associated with the processor for implementing restrictions on user access to the electronic device if user interaction is not detected within a predetermined lockout-time interval, the device lock module being configured for resetting the lockout-time interval into a shorter value if a user stimulus is issued by the output device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the device lock module is configured for resetting the lockout-time interval into a shorter value if a user stimulus is issued by the output device within the predetermined lockout-time interval.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the device lock module is configured for setting an initial value for the predetermined lockout-time interval;

monitoring for use interaction within the predetermined lockout-time interval and if user interaction is not detected within the predetermined lockout-time interval then implementing the restrictions on user access; and

monitoring for issuance of the stimulus within the predetermined lockout-time interval and if the stimulus is issued during the predetermined lockout-time interval, resetting a time remaining in the predetermined lockout-time interval to a second value less than the initial value.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the device lock module is configured such that, if the user stimulus is issued during the predetermined lockout-time interval, then the time remaining in the predetermined lockout-time interval is reset to the second value only when the time remaining in the predetermined lockout-time interval when the user stimulus is issued exceeds the second value.

5. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the device lock module is configured for tracking user response times to issue user stimuli and adjusting the second value based on the tracked user response times.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the user stimulus comprises an aural stimulus and/or a physical stimulus.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a mobile communications device enabled for communications over a wireless network, and the processor is configured for causing the output device to issue the user stimulus when the electronic device receives a new communication addressed to it over the wireless network, the new communication comprising an electronic message or an incoming telephone call.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises an event scheduling application associated with the processor for generating event reminders, the processor being configured for causing the output device to issue the user stimulus when an event reminder is generated.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the output device is configured to issue user stimuli for at least two different types of events and the device lock module is configured to reset the lockout-time interval based on the type of event for which the user stimulus is issued.

10. A method for providing security for a mobile communications device, comprising steps of:

monitoring for predetermined user interaction with the mobile communications device;

locking the mobile communications device if the predetermined user interaction is not detected within a predetermined lockout time interval; and

resetting the lockout time interval to a shorter value if a user stimulus is issued by the mobile communications device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the resetting step is performed based on whether a time remaining in the lockout time interval is greater than the shorter value.

12. The method of claim 10, comprising monitoring for new communications received by the mobile communications device and issuing the user stimulus in response to receiving a new communication at the mobile communications device.

13. The method of claim 10, comprising monitoring a length of time for user interaction to occur after the user stimulus has been issued and adjusting the shorter value based thereon.

14. A computer software product having a computer-readable medium tangibly embodying software code executable by a processor of a mobile communications device for providing security, the computer executable instructions comprising:

computer executable instructions for monitoring for predetermined user interaction with the mobile communications device;

computer executable instructions for locking the mobile communications device if the predetermined user interaction is not detected within a predetermined lockout time interval; and

computer executable instructions for resetting the lockout time interval to a shorter value if a user stimulus is issued by the mobile communications device.

15. The computer software product of claim 14, wherein the computer executable instructions for resetting step is performed based on whether a time remaining in the lockout time interval is greater than the shorter value.

16. The computer software product of claim 14, comprising computer executable instructions for monitoring for new communications received by the mobile communications device and issuing the user stimulus in response to receiving a new communication at the mobile communications device.

17. The computer software product of claim 14, comprising computer executable instructions for monitoring a length of time for user interaction to occur after the user stimulus has been issued and adjusting the shorter value based thereon.