SECURING METHOD AND MOBILE DEVICE THUS SECURED

• US 20080218347A1
• Filed: 03/03/2008
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Compagnie Industrielle et Financiere D'Ingenierie "Ingenico"
• Original Assignee: Ingenico (Ingenico Group SA)
• Inventors: Naccache, David
• Application Number:
  US12/041,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20080218347A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/025 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses absence of reply signal after an elapsed time
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for securing a mobile digital processing device. The method includes: a protective step that is self-activated when the mobile device measures an evolutionary value approaching a threshold value and wherein the mobile device executes a protective action; and includes a step of self-setting the evolutionary value when the mobile device and a holder associated therewith are detected in a common vicinity. The evolutionary value is positioned at a value remote from the threshold value, so as to allow the evolutionary value to approach the threshold value naturally, when the mobile device and the holder are no longer detected in a common vicinity.

Claims

1. Method for securing a mobile digital processing device comprising:

a protective step that is self-activated when the mobile device measures an evolutionary value approaching a threshold value and wherein the mobile device executes a protective action; and

a step of self-setting said evolutionary value when the mobile device and a holder associated therewith are detected in a common vicinity and wherein said evolutionary value is positioned at a value remote from said threshold value, so as to allow said evolutionary value to approach said threshold value naturally, when the mobile device and said holder are no longer detected in a common vicinity.

2. Method of securing a mobile device of claim 1, wherein the protective action comprises destroying private user data residing within the mobile device.

3. Method of securing a mobile device of claim 1, wherein the protective action comprises sounding an alarm that can be detected by a human sense.

4. Method of securing a mobile device of claim 1, wherein the protective action comprises sending a message to a recipient pre-established or chosen by the user.

5. Method of securing a mobile device of claim 1, wherein said evolutionary threshold value is temporal by nature.

6. Mobile digital processing device comprising:

protective means (6, 7) designed to measure an evolutionary value in the direction of approaching a threshold value, in order to detect attainment of said threshold value by said evolutionary value and to execute a protective action when said threshold value is attained; and

means of recognizing a holder associated with the mobile device, designed to detect proximity of said holder and to position said evolutionary value at a value remote from said threshold value, so as to allow said evolutionary value to approach said threshold value naturally, when said holder is no longer detected within proximity to the mobile device.

7. Mobile digital processing device of claim 6, wherein the device includes means of destroying private user data residing within the mobile device, in order to execute said protective action.

8. Mobile digital processing device of claim 6, wherein the device includes means for sounding an alarm that can be detected by a human sense, in order to execute said protective action.

9. Mobile digital processing device of claim 6, wherein the device includes means designed to send a message to a recipient pre-established or chosen by the user, in order to execute said protective action.

10. Mobile digital processing device of claim 6, wherein the device includes clock means designed to generate the evolutionary value of a temporal nature.

11. Mobile digital processing device of claim 6, wherein said means of recognizing include a radio frequency identification tag reader.

12. Mobile digital processing device holder comprising short-range data transmission means which identify the holder.

13. Mobile digital processing device holder of claim 12, wherein said short-range transmission means include a radio frequency identification tag.