SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANAGING SECURITY BETWEEN A PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE AND A PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE DOCKING STATION

• US 20100251361A1
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Collopy, Thomas Kevin, Gill, Manjit Singh
• Granted Patent: US 9,128,669 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/445 by mutual authentication, e.g. between devices or programs
• 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 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS

Abstract

A method of managing portable communication device (PCD) and PCD docking station security is disclosed and may include determining whether a PCD is mated with a PCD docking station when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station, initiating a back-end security call when the PCD is not mated with the PCD docking station, querying a user for a primary access code, and determining whether the primary access code is correct. The method may also include terminating the back-end security call when the access code is correct and providing limiting access to PCD content items and applications via the PCD docking station.

Claims

1. A method of managing portable communication device (PCD) and PCD docking station security, the method comprising:

determining whether a PCD is mated with a PCD docking station when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station;

initiating a back-end security call when the PCD is not mated with the PCD docking station;

querying a user for a primary access code; and

determining whether the primary access code is correct.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

terminating the back-end security call when the access code is correct; and

providing limiting access to PCD content items and applications via the PCD docking station.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining whether access to a secured item on the PCD is attempted;

querying the user for a secondary access code, when access to the secured item is attempted; and

determining whether the secondary access code is correct.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing limited access to a PCD memory, when the secondary access code is incorrect.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

providing full access to a PCD memory, when the secondary access code is correct.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

blocking access to a PCD memory when the primary access code is incorrect; and

transmitting location information associated with the PCD to a security center.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing full access to a PCD memory and a PCD docking station memory when the PCD is mated with the PCD docking station.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining whether access to a PCD docking station memory is attempted;

querying the user for a tertiary access code; and

determining whether the tertiary access code is correct.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

allowing full access to the PCD docking station memory when the tertiary access code is correct.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

blocking access to the PCD docking station memory when the tertiary access code is incorrect.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

blocking access to the PCD docking station memory; and

providing use of a keyboard, a mouse, a display, or a combination thereof within the PCD docking station.

12. A portable computing device, comprising:

means for determining whether a PCD is mated with a PCD docking station when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station;

means for initiating a back-end security call when the PCD is not mated with the PCD docking station;

means for querying a user for a primary access code; and

means for determining whether the primary access code is correct.

13. The portable computing device of claim 12, further comprising:

means for terminating the back-end security call when the access code is correct; and

means for providing limiting access to PCD content items and applications via the PCD docking station.

14. The portable computing device of claim 13, further comprising:

means for determining whether access to a secured item on the PCD is attempted;

means for querying the user for a secondary access code, when access to the secured item is attempted; and

means for determining whether the secondary access code is correct.

15. The portable computing device of claim 14, further comprising:

means for providing limited access to a PCD memory, when the secondary access code is incorrect.

16. The portable computing device of claim 15, further comprising:

means for providing full access to a PCD memory, when the secondary access code is correct.

17. The portable computing device of claim 12, further comprising:

means for blocking access to a PCD memory when the primary access code is incorrect; and

means for transmitting location information associated with the PCD to a security center.

18. The portable computing device of claim 12, further comprising:

means for allowing full access to a PCD memory and a PCD docking station memory when the PCD is mated with the PCD docking station.

19. The portable computing device of claim 16, further comprising:

means for determining whether access to a PCD docking station memory is attempted;

means for querying the user for a tertiary access code; and

means for determining whether the tertiary access code is correct.

20. The portable computing device of claim 19, further comprising:

means for allowing full access to the PCD docking station memory when the tertiary access code is correct.

21. The portable computing device of claim 20, further comprising:

means for blocking access to the PCD docking station memory when the tertiary access code is incorrect.

22. The portable computing device of claim 12, further comprising:

means for blocking access to the PCD docking station memory; and

means for providing use of a keyboard, a mouse, a display, or a combination thereof within the PCD docking station.

23. A portable computing device, comprising:

a processor, wherein the processor is operable to;

determine whether a PCD is mated with a PCD docking station when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station;

initiate a back-end security call when the PCD is not mated with the PCD docking station;

query a user for a primary access code; and

determine whether the primary access code is correct.

24. The portable computing device of claim 23, wherein the processor is further operable to:

terminate the back-end security call when the access code is correct; and

provide limiting access to PCD content items and applications via the PCD docking station.

25. The portable computing device of claim 24, wherein the processor is further operable to:

determine whether access to a secured item on the PCD is attempted;

query the user for a secondary access code, when access to the secured item is attempted; and

determine whether the secondary access code is correct.

26. The portable computing device of claim 25, wherein the processor is further operable to:

provide limited access to a PCD memory, when the secondary access code is incorrect.

27. The portable computing device of claim 26, wherein the processor is further operable to:

provide full access to a PCD memory, when the secondary access code is correct.

28. The portable computing device of claim 23, wherein the processor is further operable to:

block access to a PCD memory when the primary access code is incorrect; and

transmit location information associated with the PCD to a security center.

29. The portable computing device of claim 23, wherein the processor is further operable to:

allow full access to a PCD memory and a PCD docking station memory when the PCD is mated with the PCD docking station.

30. The portable computing device of claim 27, wherein the processor is further operable to:

determine whether access to a PCD docking station memory is attempted;

query the user for a tertiary access code; and

determine whether the tertiary access code is correct.

31. The portable computing device of claim 30, wherein the processor is further operable to:

allow full access to the PCD docking station memory when the tertiary access code is correct.

32. The portable computing device of claim 31, wherein the processor is further operable to:

block access to the PCD docking station memory when the tertiary access code is incorrect.

33. The portable computing device of claim 23, wherein the processor is further operable to:

block access to the PCD docking station memory; and

provide use of a keyboard, a mouse, a display, or a combination thereof within the PCD docking station.

34. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium, comprising;

at least one instruction for determining whether a PCD is mated with a PCD docking station when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station;

at least one instruction for initiating a back-end security call when the PCD is not mated with the PCD docking station;

at least one instruction for querying a user for a primary access code; and

at least one instruction for determining whether the primary access code is correct.

35. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for terminating the back-end security call when the access code is correct; and

at least one instruction for providing limiting access to PCD content items and applications via the PCD docking station.

36. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for determining whether access to a secured item on the PCD is attempted;

at least one instruction for querying the user for a secondary access code, when access to the secured item is attempted; and

at least one instruction for determining whether the secondary access code is correct.

37. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for providing limited access to a PCD memory, when the secondary access code is incorrect.

38. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for providing full access to a PCD memory, when the secondary access code is correct.

39. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for blocking access to a PCD memory when the primary access code is incorrect; and

at least one instruction for transmitting location information associated with the PCD to a security center.

40. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for allowing full access to a PCD memory and a PCD docking station memory when the PCD is mated with the PCD docking station.

41. The computer program product of claim 38, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for determining whether access to a PCD docking station memory is attempted;

at least one instruction for querying the user for a tertiary access code; and

at least one instruction for determining whether the tertiary access code is correct.

42. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for allowing full access to the PCD docking station memory when the tertiary access code is correct.

43. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for blocking access to the PCD docking station memory when the tertiary access code is incorrect.

44. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for blocking access to the PCD docking station memory; and

at least one instruction for providing use of a keyboard, a mouse, a display, or a combination thereof within the PCD docking station.