STYLUS-BASED REMOTE WIPE OF LOST DEVICE

• US 20140253466A1
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Barnes & Noble College Booksellers LLC (Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nook Digital, LLC (f/k/a Barnesandnoble.com LLC) (Bahwan CyberTek Pvt Ltd.)
• Inventors: Brewer, Dale J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,626,008 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning

Abstract

Techniques for remotely wiping data from a computing device are provided. Instructions for wiping data from the computing device can be sent via an input device such as a stylus associated with the computing device, or a dedicated module. In cases where the computing device is lost or stolen, the user, via the stylus, may remotely activate a data wipe function so as to remove selected or all information from the computing device, ensuring that sensitive information is not extracted from the device. In some cases, a back-up application configured to remotely back-up data of the target computing device is launched before that data is wiped from the device.

Claims

1. A computing device, comprising:

a touch sensitive surface for allowing user input via direct or proximate contact with a stylus; and

a user interface comprising a remote data wipe function that is configured to wipe data from the computing device in response to a specific stylus action.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the touch sensitive surface is a touch screen display.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a stylus configured to communicate with a network and including an input control feature.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the input control feature comprises a rotatable button that can be engaged to activate the remote data wipe function.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the input control feature comprises a button that can be pressed and released to activate the remote data wipe function.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein the stylus comprises one or more indicators.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the one or more indicators comprises a light.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the light comprises a light emitting diode.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein the one or more indicators comprises a display.

10. The device of claim 6 wherein the one or more indicators comprises a speaker.

11. The device of claim 6 wherein the one or more indicators comprises a vibrating element.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the remote data wipe function is activated by inputting a code into a stylus that is communicatively paired with the computing device.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein at least one of the code and/or the type of data to be wiped is user-configurable.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the remote data wipe function is further configured to launch a data back-up application prior to wiping data from the computing device.

15. A method for interacting with a remote target computing device, the method comprising:

receiving, via a communication network, a wipe data command at the remote target computing device, the wipe data command issued from a stylus; and

wiping data from the remote target computing device in response to the wipe data command.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising at least one of:

displaying a message on the remote target computing device after data has been wiped from the device; and

/or

indicating to a user via an output device on the stylus that the wipe data command has been initiated, that the data wiping is under way, and/or that the data wipe has been completed.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising, prior to wiping data from the remote target computing device, launching a back-up application configured to remotely back-up data of the remote target computing device before that data is wiped from the device.

18. A computer program product comprising a plurality of instructions non-transiently encoded thereon to facilitate operation of an electronic device according to the following process, the process comprising:

receive, via a communication network, a wipe data command at the remote target computing device, the wipe data command issued from a stylus; and

wipe data from the remote target computing device in response to the wipe data command.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, the process further comprising at least one of:

display a message on the remote target computing device after data has been wiped from the device; and

/or

indicate to a user via an output device on the stylus that the wipe data command has been initiated, that the data wiping is under way, and/or that the data wipe has been completed.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising:

prior to wiping data from the remote target computing device, launch a back-up application configured to remotely back-up data of the remote target computing device before that data is wiped from the device.