APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING PROPRIETARY INFORMATION OVER PUBLIC NOTIFICATION INFRASTRUCTURE

• US 20160337404A1
• Filed: 09/23/2015
• Published: 11/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Duca, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 10,021,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication

Abstract

A method includes generating an obfuscation of a notification and transmitting the obfuscation to an end-user device via an unsecure notification infrastructure. The method also includes, in response to a request from the end-user device, transmitting the notification to the end-user device via a secure connection. The request from the end-user device can also be received via the secure connection. The method could also include receiving information associated with an event and storing at least one of the notification and the information in association with the obfuscation, where the notification contains the information. The event could denote an event associated with an industrial process control and automation system. The obfuscation could include a unique identifier associated with the notification or a summary of the notification.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating an obfuscation of a notification;

transmitting the obfuscation to an end-user device via an unsecure notification infrastructure; and

in response to a request from the end-user device, transmitting the notification to the end-user device via a secure connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the obfuscation to the end-user device comprises transmitting the obfuscation to a push notification service.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing the secure connection to the end-user device; and

receiving the request from the end-user device via the secure connection.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information associated with an event; and

storing at least one of the notification and the information in association with the obfuscation;

wherein the notification contains the information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the event comprises an event associated with an industrial process control and automation system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a list identifying multiple notifications to the end-user device; and

transmitting details of at least one selected notification to the end-user device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a rule defining one or more conditions and one or more contents; and

generating the notification in response to the one or more conditions being satisfied, the notification containing the one or more contents.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the obfuscation comprises at least one of:

a unique identifier associated with the notification; and

a summary of the notification.

9. An apparatus comprising:

at least one memory configured to store a notification and an obfuscation of the notification;

at least one interface configured to transmit the obfuscation to an end-user device via an unsecure notification infrastructure; and

at least one processing device configured, in response to a request from the end-user device, to initiate transmission of the notification to the end-user device via a secure connection.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one processing device is further configured to:

establish the secure connection to the end-user device; and

receive the request from the end-user device via the secure connection.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the at least one processing device is further configured to;

receive information associated with an event; and

store at least one of the notification and the information in association with the obfuscation;

wherein the notification contains the information.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one processing device is further configured to:

initiate transmission of a list identifying multiple notifications to the end-user device; and

initiate transmission of details of at least one selected notification to the end-user device.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one processing device is further configured to:

receive a rule defining one or more conditions and one or more contents; and

generate the notification in response to the one or more conditions being satisfied, the notification containing the one or more contents.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the obfuscation comprises at least one of:

a unique identifier associated with the notification; and

a summary of the notification.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer readable program code that, when executed, causes at least one processing device to:

obtain an obfuscation of a notification;

initiate transmission of the obfuscation to an end-user device via an unsecure notification infrastructure; and

in response to a request from the end-user device, to initiate transmission of the notification to the end-user device via a secure connection.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the computer readable program code that when executed causes the at least one processing device to initiate transmission of the obfuscation to the end-user device comprises:

computer readable program code that when executed causes the at least one processing device to initiate transmission of the obfuscation to a push notification service.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, further containing computer readable program code that when executed causes the at least one processing device to:

establish the secure connection to the end-user device; and

receive the request from the end-user device via the secure connection.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, further containing computer readable program code that when executed causes the at least one processing device to:

receive information associated with an event; and

store at least one of the notification and the information in association with the obfuscation;

wherein the notification contains the information.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, further containing computer readable program code that when executed causes the at least one processing device to:

initiate transmission of a list identifying multiple notifications to the end-user device; and

initiate transmission of details of at least one selected notification to the end-user device.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer readable program code that, when executed, causes at least one processing device of a mobile device to:

receive an obfuscation of a notification at the mobile device via an unsecure notification infrastructure;

initiate transmission of a request for the notification via a secure connection;

receive the notification at the mobile device via the secure connection; and

present the notification at the mobile device.