Enabling Sharing of Mobile Communication Device

• US 20100235881A1
• Filed: 03/11/2009
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Zhang, Yongguang, Zhong, Lin, Liu, Yunxin
• Granted Patent: US 8,261,361 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/173 Customisation support for file systems, e.g. localisation, multi-language support, personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/176 Support for shared access to files; File sharing support
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/542 Intercept
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/545 where tasks reside in different layers, e.g. user- and kernel-space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles

Abstract

Various exemplary user interfaces, methods and computer program products describe enabling sharing of mobile communication devices. This process utilizes a shared mode for an owner of the mobile communication device to create a virtual environment for a borrower of the mobile communication device, which allows content information (e.g., certain applications and files) to be accessible and visual to the borrower. The process allows an owner of the mobile communication device to track and to manage data created or changed by the borrower. The owner may accept or reject the changes made in the content information. Furthermore, the process conceals non-shared resources to the borrower.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage media having computer instructions executable by a processor for selectively sharing data and applications, comprising:

establishing a sharing policy in an owner mode comprising at least one of;

a shared file selection, a shared application selection, or a resource allowance specification;

determining one or more files accessible in a shared mode based on the sharing policy;

creating the shared mode by presenting a virtual environment to enable the sharing policy to allow access to the one or more files located in the shared mode and simultaneously hiding access to files in the owner mode that are not identified in the shared policy; and

identifying one or more changes implemented to the one or more files in the shared mode by directing the one or more changes to a separate folder without modifying the one or more files in the shared mode.

2. The computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 1, further comprising stopping one or more processes running in the owner mode before creating the shared mode.

3. The computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving a request to re-enter the owner mode from the shared mode, wherein a user authentication is presented as a response to the request.

4. The computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 1, further comprising, upon re-entering the owner mode, determining whether to modify the one or more files by applying the one or more changes implemented during the shared mode.

5. The computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 1, wherein simultaneously hiding access to the file comprises creating a new file through a namespace visualization.

6. A method having computer instructions executable on a processor, the method comprising:

selecting content information to share in one or more multiple display screens, the content information comprises at least one of files, folders, pictures, videos, text messages, or applications;

creating a profile mode for one or more selection choices for the content information to be shared; and

providing access to the profile mode for the selected choices while simultaneously concealing other parts of the content information that was not selected to be shared.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing authentication information to switch from the profile mode to an owner mode for:

managing and tracking content information that has been modified or created; and

accepting or rejecting the content information that has been modified or created.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing authentication information to switch from the profile mode to an owner mode for:

managing and tracking content information that has been created or modified;

accepting the content information that has been created; and

rejecting the content information that has been modified.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the processor comprises being located on at least one of a mobile communication device, a personal digital assistance, a laptop, or a mobile cellular phone.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising identifying quotas for resources used for the profile, the quotas for the processor located on a mobile communication device comprising at least one of a battery usage, a unit of storage on the mobile communication device, data counts used for texting or a number of minutes for using the mobile communication device.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing authentication information to allow creating the profile for selecting content information to be shared.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing authentication information to allow returning to an owner mode from the profile mode.

13. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

recording usage of minutes on a mobile communication device when the profile mode is active.

14. A user interface having computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform acts comprising:

creating a profile to share content information in a shared mode;

identifying the content information that is accessible for the shared mode;

providing access to the content information for the shared mode while simultaneously concealing other parts of the content information not selected for the shared mode; and

managing the profile by tracking the content information that has been created or changed in the shared mode.

15. The user interface of claim 14, further comprising displaying a bar to indicate the shared mode is active.

16. The user interface of claim 14, further comprising managing the profile by displaying the content information that has been created or changed in the shared mode;

accepting the content information that has been created; and

rejecting the content information that has been modified.

17. The user interface of claim 14, further comprising preventing one or more application installations and one or more USB connections to the processor.

18. The user interface of claim 14, further comprising receiving a request to re-enter an owner mode from the shared mode, wherein a user authentication is presented as a response to the request.

19. The user interface of claim 14, further comprising establishing a sharing policy in an owner mode comprising at least one of:

a shared file selection, a shared application selection, or a resource allowance specification.

20. The user interface of claim 14, further comprising identifying quotas for resources used for the profile, the quotas for a processor located on a mobile communication device comprising at least one of a battery usage, a unit of storage on the mobile communication device, data counts used for texting, or a number of minutes for using the mobile communication device.