COMPUTING DEVICE WITH ENVIRONMENT AWARE FEATURES

• US 20100005523A1
• Filed: 08/10/2009
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Hassan, Ahmed E., Chiu, Denny, Wilson, J.F. Sean
• Granted Patent: US 7,869,789 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/19
• 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

A method and mobile electronic device are provided which automatically adjust settings based on the environment of the mobile electronic device. The settings of the mobile electronic device which are adjusted may be security settings, filter settings, or status for instant messaging in dependence on the determined location of the mobile electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for providing security to a mobile electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving an input signal from a first input device of the mobile electronic device;

determining a location of the mobile electronic device based on the input signal received from the first input device;

determining a security setting associated with the determined location, wherein the security setting is a home security setting when the mobile electronic device is within a predetermined proximity of a user'"'"'s home as determined by a predetermined home location, a work security setting when the mobile electronic device is within a predetermined proximity of a user'"'"'s work as determined by a predetermined work location, and an other location security setting when the mobile electronic device is not within a predetermined proximity of the home location or the work location; and

automatically applying the determined security setting on the mobile electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the security setting of each of the home location, work location and other location has a different level of complexity, the level of complexity of each security setting being associated with an extent to which the respective location is a secure location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the security setting includes a predetermined password to unlock the mobile electronic device from a lock mode which places restrictions on user access to the mobile electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the security setting includes a countdown timer value defining a duration after which the mobile electronic device will be locked if user interaction with the mobile electronic device is not detected.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the home security setting is more complex than the work security setting, and wherein the other security setting is more complex than the home security setting.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the security setting includes a predetermined password to unlock the mobile electronic device, wherein the predetermined password for the home security setting is more complex than the predetermined password for the work security setting, and wherein the predetermined password for the other security setting is more complex than the predetermined password for the home security setting.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the security setting includes a countdown timer value defining a duration after which the mobile electronic device will be locked if user interaction with the mobile electronic device is not detected, wherein the countdown timer value for the home security setting defines a shorter duration than the countdown timer value for the work security setting, wherein the countdown timer value for the other security setting defines a shorter duration than the countdown timer value for the home security setting.

8. A mobile electronic device, comprising:

a processor;

a first input device connected to the processor for receiving inputs;

the processor being configured for determining location information for the mobile electronic device based on input signals received from the first input device; and

a device lock module associated with the processor for;

receiving an input signal from a first input device of the mobile electronic device;

determining a location of the mobile electronic device based on the input signal received from the first input device;

determining a security setting associated with the determined location, wherein the security setting is a home security setting when the mobile electronic device is within a predetermined proximity of a user'"'"'s home as determined by a predetermined home location, a work security setting when the mobile electronic device is within a predetermined proximity of a user'"'"'s work as determined by a predetermined work location, and an other location security setting when the mobile electronic device is not within a predetermined proximity of the home location or work location; and

automatically applying the determined security setting on the mobile electronic device.

9. The mobile electronic device of claim 8, wherein the security setting includes a predetermined password to unlock the mobile electronic device, wherein the predetermined password for the home security setting is more complex than the predetermined password for the work security setting, and wherein the predetermined password for the other security setting is more complex than the predetermined password for the home security setting.

10. The mobile electronic device of claim 8, wherein the security setting includes a countdown timer value defining a duration after which the mobile electronic device will be locked if user interaction with the mobile electronic device is not detected, wherein the countdown timer value for the home security setting defines a shorter duration than the countdown timer value for the work security setting, wherein the countdown timer value for the other security setting defines a shorter duration than the countdown timer value for the home security setting.

11. A method for providing security to a mobile electronic device, the method comprising:

monitoring to determine when the mobile electronic device is locally connected to a computer;

setting a lock state of the mobile electronic device to match a lock state of the computer when the mobile electronic device is locally connected to the computer;

monitoring to detect a change in the lock state of the computer from unlocked to locked; and

initiating a preset time delay when a change in the lock state of the computer from unlocked to locked is detected, determining whether the mobile electronic device is locally connected to the computer after an expiry of the preset time delay, and locking the mobile electronic device if the mobile electronic device remains locally connected to the computer after the expiry of the preset time delay.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the mobile electronic device is not locked if the mobile electronic device is not locally connected to the computer after the expiry of the preset time delay.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

prompting during the preset time delay for input indicating whether the mobile electronic device is to be locked;

automatically locking the mobile electronic device when input indicating that the mobile electronic device is to remain unlocked is not received within the preset time delay; and

maintaining operations of the mobile electronic device in an unlocked state when input indicating that the mobile electronic device is to remain unlocked is received within the preset time delay.

14. A mobile electronic device, comprising:

a processor;

a user input device connected to the processor;

an interface for docking the mobile electronic device to a computer; and

a device lock module associated with the processor for implementing a locked state which places restrictions on access to the mobile electronic device, the device lock module being configured for requiring a predetermined user input through the user input device to remove the restrictions on user access when implemented;

wherein the processor is configured for determining whether the mobile electronic device is docked to the computer;

wherein the device lock module is configured for monitoring to determine when the mobile electronic device is locally connected to a computer;

setting a lock state of the mobile electronic device to match a lock state of the computer when the mobile electronic device is locally connected to the computer;

monitoring to detect a change in the lock state of the computer from unlocked to locked; and

initiating a preset time delay when a change in the lock state of the computer from unlocked to locked is detected, determining whether the mobile electronic device is locally connected to the computer after an expiry of the preset time delay, and locking the mobile electronic device if the mobile electronic device remains locally connected to the computer after the expiry of the preset time delay.

15. The mobile electronic device of claim 14, wherein the mobile electronic device is not locked if the mobile electronic device is not locally connected to the computer after the expiry of the preset time delay.

16. The mobile electronic device of claim 14, wherein the device lock module is configured for prompting during the preset time delay for input indicating whether the mobile electronic device is to be locked;

automatically locking the mobile electronic device when input indicating that the mobile electronic device is to remain unlocked is not received within the preset time delay; and

maintaining operations of the mobile electronic device in an unlocked state when input indicating that the mobile electronic device is to remain unlocked is received within the preset time delay.

17. The mobile electronic device of claim 16, further comprising a display screen, wherein the device lock module is configured for displaying during the preset time delay a prompt in a user interface window displayed on the display screen requesting input indicating whether the mobile electronic device is to be locked.

18. A method for providing security to a mobile electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving an input signal from a first input device of the mobile electronic device;

determining a location of the mobile electronic device based on input signals received from the first input device;

automatically adapting a filter setting for filtering the electronic messages in dependence on the determined location; and

filtering received electronic messages in dependence on the adapted filter setting.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the filter setting is only stored locally on the mobile electronic device.

21. The mobile electronic device of claim 18, wherein the filter setting is only stored locally on the mobile electronic device.

20. A mobile electronic device, comprising:

a processor;

a communication subsystem connected to the processor for exchanging signals with a wireless communication network and for receiving electronic messages;

a first input device connected to the processor for receiving an input signal;

the processor being configured for determining location information for the mobile electronic device based on the input signal received from the first input device; and

a message filtering module associated with the processor for filtering electronic messages received by the mobile electronic device, the message filtering module being configured for automatically adapting a filter setting for filtering the electronic messages in dependence on the determined location information and being further configured for filtering received electronic messages in dependence on the adapted filter setting.

22. A method for providing security to a mobile electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving an input signal from a first input device of the mobile electronic device;

determining a location of the mobile electronic device based on the input signal received from the first input device;

automatically setting a status used by an instant messaging module in dependence on the determined location; and

providing a changed status used by the instant messaging module to another instant messaging user.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the location of the device is determined to be a home location when the mobile electronic device is within a predetermined proximity of a user'"'"'s home as determined by a predetermined home location, a work location when the mobile electronic device is within a predetermined proximity of a user'"'"'s work as determined by a predetermined work location, and an other location when the mobile electronic device is not within a predetermined proximity of the home location or work location;

wherein the status is changed to “

at home”

when the location of the mobile electronic device is determined to be the home location, “

at work”

when the location of the mobile electronic device is determined to be the work location, and “

away”

when the location of the mobile electronic device is neither the home location or the work location.

24. A mobile electronic device enabled for receiving electronic messages, comprising:

a processor;

a first input device connected to the processor for receiving inputs;

a communication subsystem connected to the processor for exchanging signals with a wireless communication network and for receiving electronic messages;

the processor being configured for determining a location of the mobile electronic device based on input signals received from the first input device; and

an instant messaging module associated with the processor for sending and receiving instant messages on the mobile electronic device, the instant messaging module being configured for automatically setting a status used by the instant messaging module in dependence on the determined location information.

25. The mobile electronic device of claim 24, wherein the processor is configured for determining wherein the location of the device is determined to be a home location when the mobile electronic device is within a predetermined proximity of a user'"'"'s home as determined by a predetermined home location, a work location when the mobile electronic device is within a predetermined proximity of a user'"'"'s work as determined by a predetermined work location, and an other location when the mobile electronic device is not within a predetermined proximity of the home location or work location;

wherein the instant messaging module is configured for changing the status “

at home”

when the location of the mobile electronic device is determined to be the home location, “

at work”

when the location of the mobile electronic device is determined to be the work location, and “

away”

when the location of the mobile electronic device is neither the home location or work location.