Secure removable memory element for mobile electronic device

• US 20070288752A1
• Filed: 06/08/2006
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Chan, Weng Chong
• Application Number:
  US11/449,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20070288752A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/171
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0866 involving user or device identifiers, e.g. serial number, physical or biometrical information, DNA, hand-signature or measurable physical characteristics
• 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 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality

Abstract

Security for data stored on a removable memory element communicatively coupled with a mobile electronic device is achieved through encryption of the data using authentication information stored on a removable identification element communicatively coupled with the device. By encrypting the data stored on the removable memory element using authentication information that is stored on a removable identification element, only the possessor of the removable identification element or a person with knowledge of personal information stored thereon can access the data. Private data stored on the removable memory element is thereby advantageously protected against disclosure to a person who is not meant to have access to the data.

Claims

1. A method for securing data on a removable memory element communicatively coupled with a mobile electronic device, comprising:

receiving data on the mobile electronic device;

encrypting the data using an encryption key generated using authentication information stored on a removable identification element communicatively coupled with the mobile electronic device; and

storing the encrypted data on the removable memory element.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving on the mobile electronic device first access control information identifying one or more authentication parameters for use in generating the encryption key.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising storing on the removable memory element second access control information identifying the authentication parameters and associating the stored second access control information with the encrypted data.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the removable identification element comprises a smart card.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the authentication information comprises one or more of a unique identifier and a personal identifier.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the unique identifier is preconfigured.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the unique identifier is dynamically configured.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the unique identifier is acquired from a remote server.

9. A method for rendering secure data stored on a removable memory element communicatively coupled with a mobile electronic device, comprising:

retrieving encrypted data from the removable memory element;

decrypting the data using a decryption key generated using authentication information stored on a removable identification element communicatively coupled with the mobile electronic device; and

rendering the decrypted data on an output of the mobile electronic device.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising retrieving from the removable memory element access control information identifying one or more authentication parameters for use in generating the decryption key.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the access control information is stored on the removable memory element and associated with the encrypted data.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the removable identification element comprises a smart card.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the authentication information comprises a unique identifier.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the decryption key is further generated using a personal identifier entered on the mobile electronic device.

15. A mobile electronic device, comprising:

a first data receiving element;

a removable identification element;

a removable memory element; and

a processor communicatively coupled with the first data receiving element, the removable identification element and the removable memory element and adapted to receive data from the first data receiving element, encrypt the data using an encryption key generated using authentication information stored on the removable identification element and store the encrypted data on the removable memory element.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the device further comprises a second data receiving element communicatively coupled with the processor and adapted to receive first access control information identifying one or more authentication parameters for use in generating the encryption key.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein second access control information identifying the authentication parameters are stored on the removable memory element and associated with the encrypted data.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the removable identification element comprises a smart card.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first data receiving element is selected from the group consisting of a microphone, a digital camera, a keypad and a wireless network interface.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the second data receiving element is a keypad.