APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLED SHARING OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

• US 20110030067A1
• Filed: 07/30/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Wilson, Nicholas Bryson
• Granted Patent: US 8,875,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes

Abstract

An apparatus and method for controlled sharing of personal information are provided which allow confident and accurate indications of, and alterations to, the level of personal information being shared by all personal information sharing capable (i.e. source) applications of a portable electronic device. Controlled personal information sharing is achieved through the application of sharing modes which are enabled through the cooperation of a plurality of applications which share personal information, a detecting module which detects requests to control the continued sharing of personal information and a controlling module controls the continued sharing of personal information by the plurality of applications. A universal sharing toggle is provided which allows a user of a portable electronic device to control the sharing of all personal information by the device. A personal information sharing icon is provided which gives a user of a portable electronic device a quick indication of the present state of the device'"'"'s sharing mode. In cooperation, the universal sharing toggle and personal information sharing icon provide a user of a portable electronic device with a highly useable and efficient mechanism to control the amount of privacy provided by the device by restricting or allowing personal information to be shared.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlled sharing of personal information comprising:

a. a plurality of applications adapted to share personal information;

b. a detecting module adapted to detect a request to alter the personal information sharing of the plurality of applications; and

c. a controlling module adapted to alter the plurality of applications'"'"' sharing of personal information in accordance with the request detected by the detecting module.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the altering comprises restricting the level of personal information being shared by the plurality of applications.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an indicator which indicates the level of personal information being shared by the plurality of applications (140).

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a homescreen wherein the indicator is displayed as part of the homescreen.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a status bar wherein the indicator is displayed as part of the status bar.

6. A method for controlled sharing of personal information comprising:

a. sharing a level of personal information from a plurality of applications;

b. detecting a request to alter the level of personal information sharing from the plurality of applications; and

c. controlling the level of personal information being shared by the plurality of applications according to the detected request.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the controlling comprises filtering or not filtering requests to share personal information received according to an Application Programming Interface.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the controlling comprises notifying the plurality of applications of the detected request and the plurality of applications sharing personal information according to the requested level of sharing of personal information.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the controlling comprises registering or authorizing the plurality of applications to ensure that the plurality of applications share personal information according to the requested level of sharing of personal information.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the controlling further comprises:

a. identifying suspect applications; and

b. inspecting requests to share personal information originating from the suspect applications.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the sharing, detecting and controlling occur at a portable electronic device.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein the sharing, detecting and controlling occur at a server.

13. An apparatus for controlled sharing of personal information comprising:

a. a personal information sharing status indicator; and

b. a plurality of applications sharing personal information according to a sharing mode,

wherein the personal information sharing status indicator provides a visual indication of the sharing mode.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the personal information sharing status indicator is an icon and upon an actuation of the icon a graphical representation of a sharing toggle is presented.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the sharing toggle comprises:

a. a universal sharing toggle; and

b. an individual sharing toggle.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the sharing toggle further comprises:

a. an additional access point.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the personal information sharing status indicator comprises an alerting visual indication which indicates that there is a potential that an undesired level of personal information may be being shared by the plurality of applications.

19. A computer readable medium comprising instructions for executing a sharing toggle according to claim 17.

18. A sharing toggle comprising:

a. a universal sharing toggle for altering the level of personal information sharing of a plurality of applications; and

b. an individual sharing toggle for altering the level of personal information sharing of a single application.

20. A portable electronic device comprising:

a. a housing;

b. a display housed by the housing;

c. a keyboard housed by the housing;

d. a navigation device housed by the housing;

e. a communication mechanism housed by the housing;

f. a storage mechanism housed by the housing;

g. a processor housed by the housing, the processor coordinating the operation of the display, the keyboard, the navigation device, the communication mechanism and the storage mechanism;

h. a plurality of applications stored in the storage mechanism and executable by the processor to share personal information;

i. a detecting module stored in the storage mechanism and executable by the processor; and

j. a controlling module stored in the storage mechanism, the controlling module executable by the processor.