Access restriction in response to determining device transfer

• US 20120254991A1
• Filed: 03/30/2011
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Levien, Royce A., Lord, Richard T., Lord, Robert W., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr., Tegreene, Clarence T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,863,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/21
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly

Abstract

A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: determining that a computing device used by a first user has been transferred from the first user to a second user; and restricting access via the computing device to one or more items in response to said determining. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A computationally-implemented system, comprising:

means for determining that a computing device used by a first user has been transferred from the first user to a second user;

means for restricting access via the computing device to one or more items in response to said determining.

2-86. -86. (canceled)

87. A computationally-implemented method, comprising:

determining that a computing device used by a first user has been transferred from the first user to a second user, wherein said determining that a computing device used by a first user has been transferred from the first user to a second user is performed via at least one of a machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter; and

restricting access via the computing device to one or more items in response to said determining.

88. The computationally-implemented method of claim 87, wherein said determining that a computing device used by a first user has been transferred from the first user to a second user comprises:

determining automatically and without interference by the first user or the second user that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user.

94. The computationally-implemented method of claim 87, wherein said determining that a computing device used by a first user has been transferred from the first user to a second user comprises:

determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by at least determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user.

95. The computationally-implemented method of claim 94, wherein said determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by at least determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user comprises:

determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner by at least detecting that the computing device is no longer in a particular tilt orientation that the computing device was detected in during use of the computing device by the first user.

96. The computationally-implemented method of claim 95, wherein said determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner by at least detecting that the computing device is no longer in a particular tilt orientation that the computing device was detected in during use of the computing device by the first user comprises:

detecting that the computing device is no longer in a particular tilt orientation that the computing device was detected in during use of the computing device by the first user by at least detecting that the computing device has been reoriented from the particular tilt orientation to another tilt orientation that when detected infers that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user.

97. The computationally-implemented method of claim 95, wherein said determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner by at least detecting that the computing device is no longer in a particular tilt orientation that the computing device was detected in during use of the computing device by the first user comprises:

detecting that the computing device is no longer in a particular tilt orientation that the computing device was detected in during use of the computing device by the first user by at least detecting that the computing device has been reoriented from the particular tilt orientation to another tilt orientation having an angular tilt that is at least a predefined percentage different from an angular tilt associated with the particular tilt orientation that the computing device was detected as being in during use of the computing device by the first user.

98. The computationally-implemented method of claim 94, wherein said determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by at least determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user comprises:

determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner by at least detecting that the computing device is no longer at a particular spatial location that the computing device was detected as being located at during use of the computing device by the first user.

99. The computationally-implemented method of claim 98, wherein said determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner by at least detecting that the computing device is no longer at a particular spatial location that the computing device was detected as being located at during use of the computing device by the first user comprises:

detecting that the computing device is no longer at a particular spatial location that the computing device was detected as being located at during use of the computing device by the first user by at least detecting that the computing device has been relocated from the particular spatial location to another spatial location that when detected infers that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user.

100. The computationally-implemented method of claim 98, wherein said determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner by at least detecting that the computing device is no longer at a particular spatial location that the computing device was detected as being located at during use of the computing device by the first user comprises:

detecting that the computing device is no longer at a particular spatial location that the computing device was detected as being located at during use of the computing device by the first user by at least detecting that the computing device has been relocated from the particular spatial location to another spatial location that is at least a predefined distance away from the particular spatial location that the computing device was detected as being located at during use of the computing device by the first user.

101. The computationally-implemented method of claim 94, wherein said determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by at least determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user comprises:

determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner by at least detecting that the computing device has been spin rotated from a first orientation associated with the computing device during use of the computing device by the first user to a second orientation.

102. The computationally-implemented method of claim 94, wherein said determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by at least determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user comprises:

determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner by at least detecting that the computing device has moved away from the first user.

103. The computationally-implemented method of claim 102, wherein said determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner by at least detecting that the computing device has moved away from the first user comprises:

detecting that the computing device has moved away from the first user by at least detecting that the computing device has moved a predefined distance away from the first user.

104. The computationally-implemented method of claim 94, wherein said determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by at least determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user comprises:

determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner by at least detecting that the computing device is no longer vibrating in a manner that matches with a vibration pattern that the computing device was detected having during use of the computing device by the first user.

105. The computationally-implemented method of claim 104 wherein said determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner by at least detecting that the computing device is no longer vibrating in a manner that matches with a vibration pattern that the computing device was detected having during use of the computing device by the first user comprises:

detecting that the computing device is no longer vibrating in a manner that matches with a vibration pattern that the computing device was detected having during use of the computing device by the first user by at least detecting that the computing device is vibrating in a manner that matches with a vibration pattern associated with the second user.

106. The computationally-implemented method of claim 94, wherein said determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by at least determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user comprises:

determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner by at least detecting that the computing device is not vibrating in a manner that matches with a vibration pattern that is associated with the first user.

107. The computationally-implemented method of claim 94, wherein said determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by at least determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner that at least infers that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user comprises:

determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner by at least detecting that the computing device has moved in a particular three-dimensional movement that infers that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user.

108. The computationally-implemented method of claim 87, wherein said determining that a computing device used by a first user has been transferred from the first user to a second user comprises:

determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by at least detecting presence or absence of one or more visual cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device.

110. The computationally-implemented method of claim 108, wherein said determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by at least detecting presence or absence of one or more visual cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device comprises:

detecting presence or absence of one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by detecting at least a change in lighting in the proximate vicinity of the computing device that infers that the computing device has at least moved.

111. The computationally-implemented method of claim 110, wherein said detecting presence or absence of one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by detecting at least a change in lighting in the proximate vicinity of the computing device that infers that the computing device has at least moved comprises:

detecting at least a change in lighting in the proximate vicinity of the computing device that infers that the computing device has at least moved by detecting at least a predefined amount of change in lighting in the proximate vicinity of the computing device within a predefined time period.

112. The computationally-implemented method of claim 108, wherein said determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by at least detecting presence or absence of one or more visual cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device comprises:

determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by at least detecting presence of at least one face in the proximate vicinity of the computing device not associated with the first user.

113. The computationally-implemented method of claim 112, wherein said determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by at least detecting presence of at least one face in the proximate vicinity of the computing device not associated with the first user comprises:

detecting presence of at least one face in the proximate vicinity of the computing device not associated with the first user by at least detecting presence of at least one face in the proximate vicinity of the computing device that is recognized as being associated with the second user.

114. The computationally-implemented method of claim 108, wherein said determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by at least detecting presence or absence of one or more visual cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device comprises:

detecting presence or absence of one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by at least detecting presence of a first face associated with the first user and a second face associated with the second user in the proximate vicinity of the computing device, the second face being detected as being closer to the computing device than the first face.

115. The computationally-implemented method of claim 108, wherein said determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by at least detecting presence or absence of one or more visual cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device comprises:

detecting presence or absence of one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by detecting presence of at least one eyeball in the proximate vicinity of the computing device not associated with the first user.

118. The computationally-implemented method of claim 108, wherein said determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by at least detecting presence or absence of one or more visual cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device comprises:

detecting presence or absence of one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by at least detecting absence of a visual cue associated with the first user in the proximate vicinity of the computing device.

119. The computationally-implemented method of claim 118, wherein said detecting presence or absence of one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by at least detecting absence of a visual cue associated with the first user in the proximate vicinity of the computing device comprises:

detecting absence of a visual cue associated with the first user in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by at least detecting absence of a face associated with the first user in the proximate vicinity of the computing device.

120. The computationally-implemented method of claim 118, wherein said detecting presence or absence of one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by at least detecting absence of a visual cue associated with the first user in the proximate vicinity of the computing device comprises:

detecting absence of a visual cue associated with the first user in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by at least detecting absence of one or more eyeballs associated with the first user in the proximate vicinity of the computing device.

121. The computationally-implemented method of claim 108, wherein said determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by at least detecting presence or absence of one or more visual cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device comprises:

detecting presence or absence of one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by at least detecting visually that the computing device has moved away from the first user.

122. The computationally-implemented method of claim 87, wherein said determining that a computing device used by a first user has been transferred from the first user to a second user comprises:

determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by at least detecting presence or absence of one or more audio cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device.

124. The computationally-implemented method of claim 122, wherein said determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by at least detecting presence or absence of one or more audio cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device comprises:

detecting presence or absence of one or more audio cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by at least detecting presence of at least one audio voice pattern not associated with the first user in the proximate vicinity of the computing device.

125. The computationally-implemented method of claim 124, wherein said detecting presence or absence of one or more audio cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by at least detecting presence of at least one audio voice pattern not associated with the first user in the proximate vicinity of the computing device comprises:

detecting presence of at least one audio voice pattern not associated with the first user in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by at least detecting presence of at least one audio voice pattern that is recognized as being associated with the second user in the proximate vicinity of the computing device.

126. The computationally-implemented method of claim 122, wherein said determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by at least detecting presence or absence of one or more audio cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device comprises:

detecting presence or absence of one or more audio cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device by at least detecting audibly that the computing device has moved away from the first user.

127. The computationally-implemented method of claim 87, wherein said determining that a computing device used by a first user has been transferred from the first user to a second user comprises:

determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner and detecting presence or absence of one or more visual cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device.

128. The computationally-implemented method of claim 127, wherein said determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner and detecting presence or absence of one or more visual cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device comprises:

determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by determining that the computing device has moved in a particular manner, detecting the presence or absence of the one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device, and detecting presence or absence of one or more audio cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device.

129. The computationally-implemented method of claim 87, wherein said determining that a computing device used by a first user has been transferred from the first user to a second user comprises:

determining that the computing device has been transferred from the first user to the second user by detecting presence or absence of one or more visual cues in the proximate vicinity of the computing device and detecting presence or absence of one or more audio cues in proximate vicinity of the computing device.

130. The computationally-implemented method of claim 87, wherein said determining that a computing device used by a first user has been transferred from the first user to a second user comprises:

determining that a computing device used by a first user has been transferred from the first user to a second user, the determination being initiated in response to geographic location of the computing device.

133. The computationally-implemented method of claim 87, wherein said restricting access via the computing device to one or more items in response to said determining comprises:

restricting access via the computing device to one or more items in response to said determining by at least restricting access to the one or more items that were accessible by the first user when the first user was using the computing device.

134. The computationally-implemented method of claim 133, wherein said restricting access via the computing device to one or more items in response to said determining by at least restricting access to the one or more items that were accessible by the first user when the first user was using the computing device comprises:

restricting access to the one or more items that were accessible by the first user when the first user was using the computing device by providing only partial access to the one or more items that were accessible by the first user when the first user was using the computing device.

135. The computationally-implemented method of claim 133, wherein said restricting access via the computing device to one or more items in response to said determining by at least restricting access to the one or more items that were accessible by the first user when the first user was using the computing device comprises:

restricting access to the one or more items that were accessible by the first user when the first user was using the computing device by providing no access to the one or more items that were accessible by the first user when the first user was using the computing device.

137. The computationally-implemented method of claim 87, wherein said restricting access via the computing device to one or more items in response to said determining comprises:

restricting viewing access via the computing device to the one or more items in response to said determining.

140. The computationally-implemented method of claim 87, wherein said restricting access via the computing device to one or more items in response to said determining comprises:

restricting audio access via the computing device to the one or more items in response to said determining.

143. The computationally-implemented method of claim 87, wherein said restricting access via the computing device to one or more items in response to said determining comprises:

presenting, via the computing device and in response at least in part to said determining, the one or more items in one or more formats that prevent one or more editing actions from being performed on one or more parts of the one or more items.

149. The computationally-implemented method of claim 87, wherein said restricting access via the computing device to one or more items in response to said determining comprises:

presenting, via the computing device and in response at least in part to said determining, the one or more items in one or more formats that prevent at least one of one or more functionalities of the one or more items from being used.

150. The computationally-implemented method of claim 87, wherein said restricting access via the computing device to one or more items in response to said determining comprises:

restricting access via the computing device to one or more items in response to said determining by restricting access via the computing device to the one or more items that were determined to be opened for access by the first user via the computing device.

161. The computationally-implemented method of claim 87, wherein said restricting access via the computing device to one or more items in response to said determining comprises:

restricting access via the computing device to one or more items that are ascertained to be affiliated with one or more particular entities in response to said determining.

169. The computationally-implemented method of claim 87, further comprising:

generating an alert that indicates that the computing device has been reconfigured to restrict access to the one or more items in response to said determining.

89-93. -93. (canceled)

109. (canceled)

116-117. -117. (canceled)

123. (canceled)

131-132. -132. (canceled)

136. (canceled)

138-139. -139. (canceled)

141-142. -142. (canceled)

144-148. -148. (canceled)

151-160. -160. (canceled)

162-168. -168. (canceled)

170-172. -172. (canceled)

173. A computationally-implemented system, comprising:

circuitry for determining that a computing device used by a first user has been transferred from the first user to a second user; and

circuitry for restricting access via the computing device to one or more items in response to said determining.