Method and electronic device for providing security

• US 20140344918A1
• Filed: 05/14/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Choi, Bokun, Kim, Junghoon, Namgoong, Boram, Roh, Byoungtack, Park, Jihyun, Lee, Youngjin
• Application Number:
  US14/120,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20140344918A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2113 Multi-level security, e.g. mandatory access control

Abstract

A method for securing an electronic device is provided. The method includes determining a security level of the electronic device, the security level comprising one of a high security level and a low security level, and adjusting a security level of the electronic device, based on the current status of the electronic device. An electronic device includes a screen configured to display information, a processor configured to determine a security level of the electronic device, the security level comprising one of a high security level and a low security level, and adjust a security level of the electronic device, based on the current status of the electronic device. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of operating an electronic device having at least one sensor for measuring a physical quantity, the method comprising:

determining a current status of the electronic device using the at least one sensor, wherein the current status is one of a status of being carried and a status of being left; and

adjusting a security level of the electronic device, based on the current status of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the security level comprises:

setting a lower security level for the status of being carried;

or

setting a higher security level for the status of being left.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the status of being carried comprises a status of being used.

4. The method of claim 1, the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a grip sensor, a pressure sensor, a gravity sensor and an acceleration sensor

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the status of being left is selected when the measured physical quantity has not been changed for a threshold time.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the status of being carried is selected when the measured physical quantity has been continuously changed.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein once the current status is set to be the status of being left, the security level maintains to be the higher security level until a user releases the higher security level.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

for the higher security level, providing a plurality of lock-screens having different passwords in a sequence after each lock-screen is successfully unlocked.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of lock-screens requires different formats of the passwords.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

for the lower security level, displaying a prior screen before being locked when a single lock-screen is successfully unlocked.

13. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the status of being carried comprises a status of being used.

11. An electronic device comprising:

at least one sensor for measuring a physical quantity; and

a processor configured to;

determine a security level of the electronic device, using the at least one sensor, the security level comprising one of a high security level and a low security level; and

adjusting a security level of the electronic device, based on the current status of the electronic device.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configure to:

setting a lower security level for the status of being carried;

or

setting a higher security level for the status of being left.

14. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a grip sensor, a pressure sensor, a gravity sensor and an acceleration sensor.

15. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the status of being left is selected when the measured physical quantity has not been changed for a threshold time.

16. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the status of being carried is selected when the measured physical quantity has been continuously changed.

17. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein once the current status is set to be the status of being left, the security level maintains to be the higher security level until a user releases the higher security level.

18. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to, for the higher security level, cause a screen to provide a plurality of lock-screens having different passwords in a sequence after each lock-screen is successfully unlocked.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the plurality of lock-screens requires different formats of the passwords.

20. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to:

for the lower security level, cause a screen to display a prior screen before being locked when a single lock-screen is successfully unlocked.