Deleting Confidential Information Used to Secure a Communication Link

• US 20110321171A1
• Filed: 09/10/2011
• Published: 12/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Adams, Neil, Brown, Michael S., Brown, Michael K., Little, Herbert, Totzke, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,442,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/60 Protecting data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/30 Security of mobile devices; Security of mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/61 Time-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A system includes a first wireless-enabled device that transparently stores confidential information and a second wireless-enabled device that stores the same confidential information. The confidential information is to be used to secure a wireless communication link between the first device and the second device. One or both of the first device and the second device is to delete the confidential information upon fulfillment of one or more conditions related to the communication link.

Claims

1. A first device comprising:

a communication interface compatible with a wireless communication protocol;

a processor; and

a memory configured to store executable code,

where if a wireless communication link has been established via the communication interface between the first device and a second device and has been secured using confidential information stored at the first device, the executable code, when executed by the processor, deletes the confidential information from the first device in response to a lack of communication between the first device and the second device over the wireless communication link for at least a predefined period of time while the wireless communication link remains enabled.

2. The first device as recited in claim 1, wherein the confidential information is to be stored transparently at the first device.

3. The first device as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless communication protocol comprises a wireless personal area network protocol.

4. A first device comprising:

a communication interface compatible with a wireless communication protocol;

a processor; and

a memory configured to store executable code,

the first device including smart card reader functionality,

where if a wireless communication link has been established via the communication interface between the first device and a second device and has been secured using confidential information stored at the first device, the executable code, when executed by the processor, deletes the confidential information from the first device upon removal of a smart card from the first device for at least a predefined period of time.

5. The first device as recited in claim 4, wherein the confidential information is to be stored transparently at the first device.

6. The first device as recited in claim 4, wherein the wireless communication protocol comprises a wireless personal area network protocol.

7. The first device as recited in claim 4, wherein the executable code, when executed by the processor, deletes the confidential information from the first device upon removal of a smart card from the first device.

8. A method at a first device, the method comprising:

using confidential information stored at the first device to secure a wireless communication link between the first device and a second device;

detecting, while the wireless communication link remains enabled, a lack of communication between the first device and the second device over the wireless communication for at least a predefined period of time; and

deleting the confidential information from the first device upon detecting the lack of communication for at least the predefined period of time.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the confidential information is stored transparently at the first device.

10. A method at a first device, the method comprising:

using confidential information stored at the first device to secure a wireless communication link between the first device and a second device, the first device including smart card reader functionality;

detecting removal of a smart card from the first device; and

deleting the confidential information from the first device upon detecting the removal.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the confidential information is stored transparently at the first device.

12. A method at a first device, the method comprising:

using confidential information stored at the first device to secure a wireless communication link between the first device and a second device, the first device including smart card reader functionality;

detecting removal of a smart card from the first device for at least a predefined period of time; and

deleting the confidential information from the first device upon detecting the removal for at least the predefined period of time.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the confidential information is stored transparently at the first device.