METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING INFORMATION ON MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20120278633A1
• Filed: 04/29/2011
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Georgetown University
• Original Assignee: Georgetown University
• Inventors: Frieder, Ophir, Sherr, Micah, Wilberding, Jordan
• Granted Patent: US 8,819,448 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/189
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2107 File encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0869 involving random numbers or seeds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/041 Key generation or derivation

Abstract

A system and method for protecting information on a mobile device. The method and apparatus obtain a predetermined portion of asymmetric information upon an input of the asymmetric information in the mobile device; generate an identifier by using a first generating algorithm that uses the predetermined portion of the asymmetric information as an algorithm input; generate an encryption key by using a second generating algorithm that uses the predetermined portion of the asymmetric information as an algorithm input; generate ciphered information by using an encryption algorithm that uses the encryption key and the information as algorithm inputs; associate the identifier with the ciphered information; and store the ciphered information as associated with the identifier.

Claims

1. A method for protecting information on a mobile device, comprising:

obtaining a predetermined portion of asymmetric information upon an input of the asymmetric information in the mobile device;

generating an identifier by using a first generating algorithm that uses the predetermined portion of the asymmetric information as an algorithm input;

generating an encryption key by using a second generating algorithm that uses the predetermined portion of the asymmetric information as an algorithm input;

generating ciphered information by using an encryption algorithm that uses the encryption key and the information as algorithm inputs;

associating the identifier with the ciphered information; and

storing the ciphered information as associated with the identifier.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information includes contact information, and the predetermined portion includes a contact name of the contact information.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating a first salt that is used as an algorithm input by the first generating algorithm and the second generating algorithm.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first generating algorithm and the second generating algorithm are different.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating a first salt and a second salt, wherein the first salt and the second salt are different.

6. The method according to claim 5, comprising:

the first generating algorithm using the first salt as an algorithm input, and

the second generating algorithm using the second salt as an algorithm input,

wherein the first algorithm and the second algorithm are identical.

7. The method according to claim 5, comprising:

the first generating algorithm using the first salt as an algorithm input, and

the second generating algorithm using the second salt as an algorithm input,

wherein the first algorithm and the second algorithm are different.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein when a plurality of pieces of information are inputted into the mobile device, each piece of the input information is individually encrypted by using asymmetric information associated with that piece of the input information.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving information from the mobile device.

10. The method according to claim 9, comprising:

prompting a user to input retrieving information;

generating search information by using the first generating algorithm; and

determining whether the search information matches any identifier stored in the mobile device.

11. The method according to claim 10, the method comprising:

matching the search information to the identifier stored in the mobile device, and

generating a decryption key by using the second generating algorithm and decrypting information associated with the identifier by using the decryption key.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein when the first generating algorithm and the second generating algorithm are identical, the method further comprises:

the first generating algorithm including a first salt as an algorithm input, and

the second generating algorithm including a second salt as an algorithm input,

wherein the first salt and the second salt are different.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein when the first generating algorithm and the second generating algorithm are different, the method comprises:

the first generating algorithm and the second generating algorithm including a same salt as an algorithm input.

14. A non-transitory storage medium recorded thereon a program that, when executed, causes a processor to execute a method for protecting information, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining a predetermined portion of asymmetric information upon an input of the asymmetric information in the mobile device;

generating an identifier by using a first generating algorithm that uses the predetermined portion of the asymmetric information as an algorithm input;

generating an encryption key by using a second generating algorithm that uses the predetermined portion of the asymmetric information as an algorithm input;

generating ciphered information by using an encryption algorithm that uses the encryption key and the information as algorithm inputs;

associating the identifier with the ciphered information; and

storing the ciphered information as associated with the identifier.

15. A mobile device that implements an information protecting method, the information protecting method including:

obtaining a predetermined portion of asymmetric information upon an input of the asymmetric information in the mobile device;

generating an identifier by using a first generating algorithm that uses the predetermined portion of the asymmetric information as an algorithm input;

generating an encryption key by using a second generating algorithm that uses the predetermined portion of the asymmetric information as an algorithm input;

generating ciphered information by using an encryption algorithm that uses the encryption key and the information as algorithm inputs;

associating the identifier with the ciphered information; and

storing the ciphered information as associated with the identifier.

16. A system that implements an information protecting method, the information protecting method including:

obtaining a predetermined portion of asymmetric information upon an input of the asymmetric information in the mobile device;

generating an identifier by using a first generating algorithm that uses the predetermined portion of the asymmetric information as an algorithm input;

generating an encryption key by using a second generating algorithm that uses the predetermined portion of the asymmetric information as an algorithm input;

generating ciphered information by using an encryption algorithm that uses the encryption key and the information as algorithm inputs;

associating the identifier with the ciphered information; and

storing the ciphered information as associated with the identifier.